It's the moment we've all been waiting for - Oriole is back.

At the end of 2022, one of London’s best cocktail bars closed its doors for the last time, promising to return when they’d found the perfect new location. And now? That day has finally come. You better believe it – award-winning hotspot Oriole is reopening in Central London this summer.

First though? They’re giving us a taste of what’s in store with a three-month pop-up in The Yards, Covent Garden (where the new permanent site will also launch), fittingly named PRELUDE by Oriole.

From Speakeasy Entertainment (the prolific team behind Swift, Nightjar and of course the original Oriole), the highly anticipated curtain-raiser will showcase a brand-new lineup of unusual cocktails designed by bar manager Samet Ali, each inspired by drinking traditions from across the globe. Our favourite? The Mizuwari (a spin on a Japanese classic), which marries chocolate miso-washed Highland Park whisky with asparagus distillate, green walnut vermouth, Amontillado sherry and cold-brewed Hojicha tea.

But this time around, it’s not all about imbibing; Oriole 2.0 will also put more of an emphasis on food, with head chef Gustavo Giallonardo bringing a menu celebrating both Nikkei and Argentine-European fusion fare. From the beef tartare sando with koji emulsion to the duck, orange mole and dukkah dish, there’ll be plenty to pair with your sweet, sweet sips.

We’ll cheers to that.

You can find PRELUDE by Oriole in St Martin's Courtyard at 23 Slingsby Place, WC2E 9AB for three months from the 13th of March. For more pop-ups in London? Check out our guide here and sign up to our newsletter for all the latest.